Redundancy, maternity...

I'm just worried that they can somehow say because I've not started mat leave yet, and they have told us there are going to be redundancies imminently, that I won't be offered one of the alternatives as I won't yet be on mat leave. Does that make sense?

So I suppose what I'm saying is when are you actually made redundant? How quickly can it happen? I can legally start mat leave next Thurs. Can it be before then?

Agree with Collaborate. You can be made redundant whilst on maternity leave. The only protection you have in that respect is that they cannot use your pregnancy/maternity leave as a reason to select you for redundancy.

If you are made redundant whilst you are on maternity leave you are entitled to be offered any suitable vacancy even if there are other employees who are more suitable. However, if there are no suitable vacancies they don't have to invent one. Note that what matters is the when you are actually made redundant, not when they give notice that there will be some redundancies.

As you have already passed the qualifying week you are entitled to SMP for the full 39 week period even if you are made redundant. Whether or not you will be entitled to any enhanced pay offered by your employer depends on your contract.